Sergeant Tony's Blog

I climbed Mt. Fuji (the real one, not the parking garage at the U of M) with a guy whose wife was a nurse. Dave ate whatever he wanted, but Debbie was very strict about her diet. Dave said that Debbie was a food Nazi.

He packed all kinds of food in his backpack and offered to share some of it when we took our first break during our assent up the mountain.

One of the sandwiches in his pack was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on … get ready for it … white bread! PB&J on WHITEbread!

Why the very THOUGHT of such a thing sent Debbie into a food slamming frenzie! But Dave just shrugged his shoulders.

Thing is, Debbie was right. Right on target.

She said white bread was “the white death.” I won’t trouble you with all of the chemical, nutritional, dietary reasons why white bread isn’t good for you. (Although white bread was in my lunch box everyday when I was a kid.)

Debbie went a little further and said that she didn’t eat anything that was white. “White is NOT right!” she declared.

Debbie didn’t eat refined sugar, white flour, white rice, white potatoes, table salt, white lard (no Crisco), no white birthday cake icing (actually, no icing at all), nothing processed and nothing white.

Turns out Debbie was right. All that white stuff isn’t good for you. Jack Lalanne, THE MAN! (sorry Gary Thompson!) turns 94 this month and is going STRONG! The guy is incredible! And the guy eats nothing white or processed.

I’m a hypocrite. I’ll admit it. I eat some white stuff. (I like some white stuff, what can I say?) But I try to limit the white stuff that I eat. I try to restrict my intake of the “bad foods” to special occasions or events. “It’s Wednesday!” is not a special event or occasion. There are valid reasons to avoid processed food … and “the white death.” Lots of good reasons.

Eating right — eating the right foods in the right proportions — isn’t just a component that effects weight loss and appearance, but it profoundly effects your mood, emotions, and energy levels as well. And it goes without saying that what you eat effects your health, well being, ability at work, and athletic performance.

Primarily, you should think of food as fuel.

Secondarily you should think of food as fuel.

Thirdly you should think of food as something to enjoy.

Here’s the question you should ask when you indulge in that “bad food” … or that white death … “What will I have to do (exercise) to burn off the calories from this xyz? How far will I have to run? How many pushups will I have to do? How will this make me feel? How will it effect me?”

Hopefully, this will help you to say “no” more often than not. And ideally, it will help us all — you AND me — to say no to the white stuff, and yes to the good stuff!

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GREG INMAN WINS FIRST CTF CHALLENGE!

This past Saturday evening, the first $5,000 Combat the Fat Weight Loss Challenge came to an exciting and awesome conclusion! It was wonderful!

The successes of ALL of the challengers was unbelievable and VERY inspiring! Over 600 pounds was lost in the past 6 months! Greg was responsible for 112.8 pounds all by himself! He lost almost 34% of his starting body weight! Greg lost the highest percentage than anyone else! Way to go Greg!!

Steve Collins was a close second with Sarah Bowen a very close third. (Steve lost 78 pounds and Sarah almost 70!!!) There pictures will be on the website ASAP!

The Second Challenge is underway and you’ll be hearing more about this new group of life changers soon!!

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ST. JUDE HALF MARATHON TRAINING ON SATURDAY!

1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles) Training for the December 6, 2008 St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon continues this Saturday at 0800 at Shelby Farms! Meet in front of the Visitor’s Center!

This is a 3 month program designed to ensure a half marathon finish time of less than 2 hours 30 minutes. (Although most who’ve completed the training finish much faster, some in under 2 hours!)

As a prerequisite, participants should be able to run/jog 3 miles in less than 36 minutes in order to begin the program. Over half of the participants each year are first time half marathoners!!

YOU can do this!!!

Sergeant Tony’s Half Marathon Training is open to ALL, Boot Campers and “friends” of Boot Camp, alike. The fee for the 3 month program is only $75 for active duty Boot Campers, and $100 for friends of Boot Camp.

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FACEBOOK

Find me on Facebook and make me your friend! (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=629618416)

I’ll make you mine! Then join the USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP Group!

While you’re on Facebook, you might see an ad for USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP pop up. Do NOT click on it! Facebook charges me for every time someone clicks on it. The ad is NOT for you knuckleheads! So don’t click me into the po’ house!

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USMC FITNESS BOOT CAMP CLASSES

At Christ Methodist
0530 Monday through Friday
0645 M-W-F
0830 M-W-F
5:45 PM M-Tu-W-Th, 5:30 PM on Friday. M-W-F are weight days, Tu/Thu are cardio days. THE TUESDAY EVENING CLASS MEETS AT ST. MARY’S

At Evergreen Presbyterian
0530 Monday through Friday

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USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP ANNIVERSARY PARTY!

When: Saturday, October 4th from 6:00pm -10:00pm

Where: Pearl’s Oyster House

Downstairs Party Room

299 South Main Street

Memphis, TN 38103

Appetizers and Cash Bar

Join us for food and fun as we celebrate 9-years of Boot Camp success!!! Receive free gifts and prizes! Take part in a friendly game of pool or darts! This is an open house event so feel free to drop-in and say “Hi” or stay as long as you like! Pearl’s is a great downtown venue! I suggest getting a babysitter for the kiddies and making it a fun night out! I look forward to seeing you there!

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“When you stop moving, it’s over.”
~ Don Wildman, 75 year old athlete and adventurer

To your continued good health and fitness!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
5358 Denwood
Memphis, TN 38120
901-644-0145

www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

www.shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main